Method and apparatus to indicate prior use of a medical item

ABSTRACT

The present invention monitors an IV bag injection port and informs the user of prior injections. The present invention employs an object and/or a sealed chamber within a transparent IV fluid bag injection port. In the case of the object, notification of prior use is achieved when the object&#39;s or IV fluid&#39;s appearance is altered. With respect to the sealed chamber, the chamber&#39;s seal is breached to allow fluid to pass between the chamber and the IV bag to change the appearance of the contents of the chamber. Since the injection port and bag walls are at least partially transparent, medical personnel are able to observe the altered appearance of either the object, IV fluid or the sealed chamber.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/730,361, entitled “Method and Apparatus toIndicate Prior Use of a Medical Item” and filed Oct. 27, 2005, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention pertains to a device for use with a medical itemthat notifies a user of prior medical item use.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Generally, an intravenous (IV) fluid bag is shipped in a sealed plasticcovering to protect the bag. The IV bag is generally in the form of asealed plastic container and includes two ports. The ports may beutilized to connect the bag to an administration set to deliver IV fluidfrom the bag to a patient and to receive syringe needles for injectionof medicaments into the IV fluid for infusion to a patient. The syringeneedles pierce a penetrable seal on the injection port where themedicaments are injected before the needle is removed. The penetrableseal includes a self-sealing material to prevent leakage when a syringeneedle is removed, where the sealing material is of sufficient strengthto withstand numerous injections without a leak. Utilizing suchinjection ports enables introduction of medicaments without compromisingthe sterility of the bag.

When medical personnel administer IV fluid to a patient, it is importantfor the personnel to be aware of various characteristics of the fluid orinfusion apparatus to avoid serious injury to the patient. For example,personnel awareness of prior use of or injection into an IV bag mayprevent infusion of contaminated fluid or fluid with improper medicationfor a patient. Since the self-sealing material shows virtually noindication of a puncture, the IV bag does not provide any notificationto medical personnel (e.g. nurse, pharmacist, etc.) of a prior injectionof medication or a potentially dangerous substance. This may lead to aninadvertent injection of an improper combination of medications into theIV bag and/or infusion of dangerous substances into a patient, therebycausing significant patient injury.

There is therefore a need to develop an indicator of prior use of amedical item capable of informing medical personnel of the possibilitythat a medication has been added to an IV bag. More specifically, thereis a need to develop a system of visually alerting medical personnel ofa prior use of an IV bag injection port.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention monitors an IV bag injection port andinforms the user of prior injections. The present invention employs anobject and/or a sealed chamber within a transparent IV fluid baginjection port. In the case of the object, notification of prior use isachieved when the object's appearance within the injection port isaltered. With respect to the sealed chamber, the chamber's seal isbreached to allow fluid to pass between the chamber and the IV bag tochange the appearance of the contents of the chamber. Because theinjection port walls are at least partially transparent, medicalpersonnel are able to observe the altered appearance of either theobject or the sealed chamber within the injection port.

An embodiment of the present invention may include positioning an objectwithin the injection passageway of an injection port. The proximal endof the port includes a penetrable, resealable membrane. Within the port,the object is sized and/or positioned so that the needle must passthrough the membrane and the object in order to discharge syringe fluidinto the IV bag. The needle contacts the object to alter the object'sappearance.

Alternative embodiments may be implemented in various manners. Forexample, a sealed chamber may be defined between the membrane and afluid barrier isolating the chamber from fluid in the IV bag. The sealedchamber itself or an object disposed therein changes appearance toindicate prior use. With this arrangement, in order to introduce syringefluid into the IV bag, the needle must pass through the membrane andchamber before breaching the fluid barrier. The visual notification ofprior use occurs within the sealed chamber when either the needle altersthe object's appearance, the object contacts fluid flowing from the IVbag through the breached fluid barrier into the chamber thereby changingthe object's appearance, or fluid from the IV bag is present within thechamber.

Any object that is susceptible to a change in appearance when contactedby a needle may be utilized. For example, the object can be a devicethat is inflated within the passage of the injection port such that aneedle passing through the injection port must pass through the inflatedobject, thereby deflating the object. The deflated object has asignificantly different appearance than the inflated object. In anycase, the mode of altering the object's appearance need not beinflation/deflation. Any other mode may be employed that utilizescontact between the object and the needle as it passes through theinjection port passageway. For example, the object's appearance may bealtered by pivoting the object within the injection port, where thesyringe needle could provide the pivot force to pivot the object.

Further, a reactive material may be placed in the sealed chamber. Thereactive material reacts by changing appearance upon contacting IVfluid. When pierced, the fluid barrier allows IV bag fluid to flow intothe previously sealed chamber to interact with the reactive material toalter the appearance of that material. For example, the reactivematerial may change color or shape, or may dissolve when placed incontact with IV fluid. The altered appearance of the reactive materialin the chamber notifies a user of a prior injection. A reactive materialmay be chosen to react with a particular substance. In other words, thereactive material may be utilized to specifically verify the presence ofa particular substance in the IV bag.

Moreover, the sealed chamber may include an alert fluid. The fluidbarrier separates the sealed chamber from the fluid in the IV bag. Inthis case, the visual alert is provided when the needle pierces thefluid barrier to allow the alert fluid to flow from the sealed chamberinto to the IV bag. The visual alert can be amplified by providing acolored alert fluid (different from the color of the IV fluid) in thesealed chamber. In other words, the presence of the alert or coloredfluid within the IV bag notifies medical personnel that the IV bag hasreceived a prior injection.

In addition, the sealed chamber may be employed without an object. Inthis case, the visual alert is provided by the needle piercing the fluidbarrier to allow fluid to flow from the IV bag into the sealed chamber.The presence of fluid within the sealed chamber notifies medicalpersonnel that the IV bag has received a prior injection.

The above and still further features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent upon consideration of the followingdetailed description of specific embodiments thereof, particularly whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein likereference numerals in the various figures are utilized to designate likecomponents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view in elevation of an exemplary IV bag enclosed in atransparent packaging material and including an injection port thatindicates a prior injection according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an injection port of the IV bag of FIG.1 including an inflatable balloon to indicate injection port usageaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective and partial section of the seal elementof the injection port of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the section of the injection port ofFIG. 2 housing the inflatable balloon according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of aninjection port including reactive paper or other material that changescolor to indicate an injection according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of an injectionport including colored fluid to indicate an injection according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of an injectionport including a sealed chamber to indicate an injection according tothe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An exemplary IV bag including an injection port that indicates a priorinjection according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1.Specifically, IV bag 2 is enclosed in a transparent package covering 14,preferably utilized during shipping to protect the bag. IV bag 2includes a tab 4 at a bag upper end with an aperture 6 for hanging orsuspending the bag from a structure (e.g., an IV pole, etc.). Bag 2further includes a discharge port 15 and an injection port 100 eachconnected to a bottom bag area 7. Discharge port 15 directs fluid fromIV bag 2 to a patient, while injection port 100 enables injection ofsubstances into IV bag 2 and notifies medical personnel of priorinjections as described below.

Injection port 100 according to the present invention is illustrated inFIG. 2. Specifically, injection port 100 includes a seal element 200, aneedle port 300, and a balloon 400. Seal element 200 is disposed at aninjection port proximal end and receives a syringe needle 350. Needleport 300 is connected to the distal end of seal element 200 and extendsfor attachment to IV bag area 7. Balloon 400 is disposed within anintermediate portion of needle port 300, preferably in an inflatedstate, and is filled with the same or substantially similar IV fluidcontained in the bag or other fluid harmless to the patient. When needle350 is inserted into seal element 200, the needle extends into andthrough needle port 300, thereby puncturing balloon 400. Balloon 400 isvisible to medical personnel, where a deflated balloon status indicatesa prior injection.

Referring to FIG. 3, seal element 200 includes a cap 220 and aprojection 270. Cap 220 is generally annular and includes a centralopening or passage 230 defined therethrough. The opening includestransverse cross-sectional dimensions greater than those of a syringe orother needle 350 and less than those of needle port 300. The proximalend of passage 230 is covered by a penetrable, resealable membrane 250.The membrane is preferably constructed of a conventional self-sealingmaterial to prevent leakage in response to withdrawal of needle 350 frominjection port 100. The material is typically of sufficient strength towithstand several injections without a leak.

Projection 270 is substantially cylindrical and extends from the distalend of passage 230. The projection includes a channel 260 definedtherethrough and transverse cross-sectional dimensions substantiallysimilar to those of passage 230. Needle port 300 is disposed overprojection 270 and is attached to the distal end of cap 220. The needleport may be attached to the projection outer surface and/or cap 220 viaany conventional techniques (e.g., heat welding, heat sealing,adhesives, RF heating, etc.). The channel and cap passage enable syringeor other needle 350 to traverse seal element 200 for injection ofmedication into bag 2.

Needle port 300 is illustrated in FIG. 4. Specifically, needle port 300is preferably in the form of a generally cylindrical and transparenttubular member with a tube passage 315 defined therethrough. Thetransverse cross-sectional dimensions of tube passage 315 is slightlygreater than those of projection 270 (FIG. 3) to enable projection 270to be received within a proximal portion of that passage as describedabove. The distal end of needle port 300 is attached to bag area 7 of IVbag 2. Needle port tube passage 315 is in fluid communication with IVbag 2, thereby enabling substances injected via the injection port toenter and mix with the IV fluid.

Since conventional injection ports merely include a self-sealingmaterial, there is virtually no mechanism for recording the occurrenceof a prior injection into an IV bag. Thus, medical personnel (e.g., anurse, a pharmacist, etc.) may inadvertently provide IV bags withimproper medication or other substances, or a contaminated IV bag may beinadvertently utilized, thereby risking injury to a patient as describedabove. The present invention employs an indicator within the injectionport to indicate the occurrence of an injection to medical personnel.

In particular, needle port 300 includes a balloon 400 or otherinflatable or enlarged object to indicate the occurrence of a priorinjection. Balloon 400 is manufactured within needle port 300 and ispreferably filled with air, substantially the same fluid within IV bag2, or another harmless substance. Balloon 400 is preferably disposed atthe needle port proximal end to enable at least a minimal degree ofinsertion of needle 350 within the needle port to contact the balloonand indicate a prior injection. In other words, this enables the balloonto indicate prior full or partial insertions of syringe or other needlesinto the needle port. Partial (or full) needle insertions may occur dueto tampering or inadvertent use by medical personnel. However, theballoon may be disposed at any suitable location within the needle portenabling or requiring contact with inserted needle 350 and visibility ofthe balloon to medical personnel. Balloon 400 is typically secured tothe needle port interior surface via conventional techniques (e.g., heatwelding, heat sealing, adhesives, RF heating, etc.) and may seal thefluid passageway against fluid flow. When a needle is inserted throughmembrane 250, the needle enters needle port 300. Since balloon 400 isdisposed proximate cap 220, the needle ruptures the balloon. The fluidcontained by balloon 400 is released and the balloon enters a deflatedstate indicating the occurrence of the injection. Medical personnel viewthe deflated state of balloon 400 and are informed of a prior injection(e.g., or any tampering or inadvertent use due to a needle insertion).Thus, medical personnel (e.g., nurse, pharmacist, etc.) receiving an IVbag 2 according to the present invention may view the state of balloon400 to determine the occurrence of prior injections or a compromisedstate of IV bag 2 prior to use.

Balloon 400 may be inflated and/or be secured to the needle portinterior surfaces to form a seal and completely block fluid flow throughneedle port 300. Since fluid cannot pass balloon 400, fluid from needle350 cannot enter the IV bag without the needle piercing balloon 400. Inother words, an inflated balloon 400 indicates that no syringe fluid hasentered IV bag 2. When a needle is inserted through membrane 250 andenters needle port 300, the needle pierces balloon 400 and dischargessyringe fluid into the IV bag fluid.

Different types of objects may be utilized in needle port 300 that alterappearance to indicate the occurrence of an injection. The objects maybe ruptured, reoriented, deformed, change color, dissolve, swell orprovide any other manner of visually alerting a user that an injectionhas occurred. The objects need only be arranged such that breach of theaccess to the IV bag fluid results in an altered appearance of thechosen object.

Referring to FIG. 5, a sealed chamber 460 may be defined within needleport 300 between cap 220 and a fluid barrier or membrane 450. A needle350 must pierce membrane 250 and penetrate fluid barrier 450 in order tointroduce medication or other fluid into IV bag 2. Fluid entering orleaving the breached chamber creates an informative difference inappearance. For example, a chemically sensitive paper or other substratemay be disposed within sealed chamber 460 in needle port 300 to indicatethe occurrence of an injection. Initially, needle port 300 issubstantially similar to the needle port described above and includes achemically sensitive paper or other material 430 within sealed chamber460. Paper/material 430 is preferably dyed and reacts to fluid exposureby changing color. Basically, paper/material 430 measures alkalinity ofthe fluid, where paper/material 430 changes color in accordance with thealkalinity of the fluid contacting the paper. Paper/material 430 may beimplemented by any conventional or other chemical sensing strips (e.g.,pH paper, etc.) altering appearance to indicate results. Paper/material430 is preferably secured toward an interior surface of tube passage 315to avoid interfering with a needle 350 inserted into the injection port.

Fluid barrier 450 is disposed within tube passage 315 distally of paper430 and includes dimensions sufficient to isolate paper 430 from fluidwithin IV bag 2. Preferably, fluid barrier 450 is disposed toward theneedle port proximal end as described above to be ruptured by needle 350in response to at least a minimal degree of needle insertion within theneedle port. Partial (or full) needle insertions may occur due totampering or inadvertent use by medical personnel. However, fluidbarrier 450 may be implemented by any suitable materials and may bedisposed at any suitable location to isolate paper 430 and be contactedby an inserted needle 350. When a needle is inserted through membrane250 and enters needle port 300, the needle pierces fluid barrier 450,thereby causing fluid from IV bag 2 to flow into chamber 460 and contactpaper/material 430. Paper/material 430 changes color to indicate theoccurrence of the injection (e.g., or any tampering or inadvertent usedue to a needle insertion) and is visible through transparent needleport 300.

In addition, a syringe needle may be partially inserted into sealedchamber 460 without piercing fluid barrier 450 to dispense fluid fromthe syringe. This may occur due to tampering or inadvertent use bymedical personnel. In this case, the dispensed fluid contactspaper/material 430 that changes color to indicate the occurrence of thetampering or injection.

Further, a colored fluid may be utilized in sealed chamber 460 toindicate the occurrence of an injection as illustrated in FIG. 6.Initially, needle port 300 is substantially similar to the needle portdescribed above and includes sealed chamber 460 with fluid barrier 450.The sealed chamber further includes a sterile colored fluid 420 (e.g.,fluid that will not cause injury to the patient). Fluid 420 issubstantially similar to the fluid within IV bag 2 and may include anysuitable additives to attain any desired color or other characteristicvisually distinguishable from the fluid within IV bag 2. Fluid barrier450 is disposed in tube passage 315 of needle port 300 distally of fluid420 and includes dimensions sufficient to isolate colored fluid 420 fromthe fluid within IV bag 2. Preferably, fluid barrier 450 is disposedtoward the needle port proximal end as described above to be ruptured byneedle 350 in response to at least a minimal degree of needle insertionwithin the needle port. Partial (or full) needle insertions may occurdue to tampering or inadvertent use by medical personnel. However, thefluid barrier may be disposed at any suitable location to enable orrequire contact by an inserted needle 350.

When needle 350 is inserted through membrane 250 and enters needle port300, the needle pierces fluid barrier 450, thereby causing colored fluid420 to flow out of sealed chamber 460 and into IV bag 2. The fluid in IVbag 2 changes color indicating the occurrence of the injection (e.g., orany tampering or inadvertent use due to a needle insertion).Alternatively, the colored fluid may be placed within a container, suchas balloon 400, that is disposed in needle port 300. Preferably, thecontainer is disposed at the needle port proximal end as described aboveto be ruptured by needle 350 in response to at least a minimal degree ofneedle insertion within the needle port. Partial (or full) needleinsertions may occur due to tampering or inadvertent use by medicalpersonnel. In this case, when the balloon is ruptured by the needle, thecolored fluid is released and indicates occurrence of the injection(e.g., or any tampering or inadvertent use due to a needle insertion).

In addition, an empty sealed chamber 460 may be utilized to indicate theoccurrence of an injection as illustrated in FIG. 7. Initially, needleport 300 is substantially similar to the needle port described above andincludes sealed chamber 460 with fluid barrier 450. When a needle 350 isinserted through membrane 250 and enters needle port 300, the needlepierces fluid barrier 450, thereby causing fluid from IV bag 2 to flowinto chamber 460. The presence of fluid in the chamber indicates theoccurrence of the injection.

In addition, a syringe needle may be inserted into sealed chamber 460without piercing fluid barrier 450 to dispense fluid from the syringe.This may occur due to tampering or inadvertent use of medical personnel.In this case, the presence of dispensed fluid in the chamber indicatesthe occurrence of the tampering or injection.

Operation of the present invention is described with reference to FIGS.1-7. Initially, a patient is to be treated using IV bag 2 with an IVadministration set. IV bag 2 includes injection port 100 for introducingmedicine into the IV bag 2 via a syringe needle 350, and discharge port15 to enable fluid to flow to the patient. Medical personnel checkobject 400 or chamber 460 within needle port 300, and/or the IV fluidfor an indication of prior injections as described above. If aninjection occurred, IV bag 2 is compromised and a new uncompromised IVbag 2 is selected for use. Once a satisfactory bag is selected,discharge port 15 is coupled to the administration set for infusion intothe patient. Prior to or during infusion, medication may need to beintroduced into the IV fluid. Accordingly, medical personnel insert asyringe or other needle 350 into injection port 100 via membrane 250.The needle enters needle port 300 and pierces balloon 400 (FIG. 1). Theballoon subsequently deflates to indicate occurrence of the injection.Alternatively, injection port 100 may include a sealed chamber 460(FIGS. 5-7), where the chamber includes paper or other material 430(FIG. 5) or colored fluid 420 (FIG. 6). In this case, the needle isinserted into needle port 300 and pierces fluid barrier 450 to exposethe paper/material to fluid from IV bag 2 (FIG. 5), to enable coloredfluid 420 to enter the IV bag (FIG. 6) or to enable fluid from the IVbag to enter the sealed chamber (FIG. 7). The paper/material and IVfluid undergo a color change, whereas the sealed chamber receives fluidfrom IV bag 2, to indicate the occurrence of the injection as describedabove.

It will be appreciated that the embodiments described above andillustrated in drawings represent only a few of the many ways ofimplementing a method and apparatus to indicate prior use of a medicalitem.

The IV bag may be of any shape or size, may be constructed of anysuitable materials and may include any quantity of discharge, injectionor other ports disposed at any suitable locations. The present inventionmay be utilized with any medical or other items (e.g., IV lines orconnectors, solution containers, etc.) to indicate insertion of variousfluids or substances. The injection port may be of any quantity, shapeor size, may be constructed of any suitable materials (e.g., plastic,etc.) and may be disposed at any suitable locations. The injection portmay be formed from a single piece, an integral unit or separatecomponents (e.g., cap, needle port, etc.). The injection port may beattached to the IV bag via any conventional or other techniques (e.g.,heat welding, heat sealing, screw thread, snap fit, RF heating, etc.).

The seal element may be of any quantity, shape or size and may beconstructed of any suitable materials (e.g., plastic, etc.). The sealelement may be formed from a single piece, an integral unit or separatecomponents (e.g., cap, projection, etc.) and may be attached to theneedle port via any conventional or other techniques (e.g., heatwelding, heat sealing, RF heating, etc.). The membrane may be of anyquantity, shape or size, may be disposed at any suitable locations andmay be constructed of any suitable self-sealing or other materialspreventing leaks.

The needle port may be of any quantity, shape or size and may beconstructed of any suitable materials (e.g., materials for IV lines ortubes, plastic, etc.). The needle port may be transparent ortranslucent, or include sufficient transparent and/or translucentsections for visibility of the balloon, fluid or other object. Theneedle port may include any suitable object that alters appearanceand/or position in response to contact with the fluid and/or needle(e.g., balloon, color changing material or fluid, deformable object,etc.).

The object may be of any quantity and disposed at any suitable locationwithin the needle port. The colored fluid employed may be of any desiredamount and may be of any suitable color distinguishable from the IV bagor application fluid. The reactive paper or material may be of anyquantity, shape or size, and may be implemented by any material that mayreact or change characteristics (e.g., dissolve, change to any desiredcolor or colors (e.g., preferably those that are easily visible ordistinguishable from the needle port), change shape or size, etc.) inresponse to any suitable properties of the fluid (e.g., alkalinity, pH,temperature, etc.). The reactive paper may be configured to indicate thepresence of any specific chemical, substance or type of fluid.

The sealed chamber may be of any quantity, shape or size, may bedisposed at any suitable locations and may include any objects toindicate the occurrence of an injection, such as the objects describedabove.

The fluid barrier may be of any quantity, shape or size, may be disposedat any suitable locations isolating the object and/or chamber from thefluid and may be constructed of any suitable materials (e.g., plastic,etc.). The fluid barrier may alternatively be a rigid object that may bedisplaced or include displaceable sections in response to contact withthe needle.

The injection port may be configured for use with any suitableinstruments inserting medication or other substances or fluids into theIV bag. Further, the injection port may be utilized with any equipmentutilizing injection ports or enabling introduction of medication orother substances or fluids (e.g., IV bags, IV administration sets,etc.).

The present invention may utilize plural indicators, where the alertmechanisms of present invention embodiments may be used individually orin any combination (e.g., a reactive material may be disposed within asealed chamber with a deflatable object, colored fluid may be utilizedin combination with the deflatable object, etc.).

The present invention is not limited to the applications describedabove, but may be utilized to notify a user of prior use or acompromised state of any medical or other item (e.g., IV line orconnector, solution container, etc.). For example, the present inventionmay be utilized for any application where user notification is desiredin response to an attempt to introduce a substance into an environmentof concern.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that theinvention makes available a novel method and apparatus to indicate prioruse of a medical item, wherein an object and/or a sealed chamber withinan IV fluid bag injection port is employed to visually notify a user ofprior use.

Having described preferred embodiments of a new and improved method andapparatus to indicate prior use of a medical item, it is believed thatother modifications, variations and changes will be suggested to thoseskilled in the art in view of the teachings set forth herein. It istherefore to be understood that all such variations, modifications andchanges are believed to fall within the scope of the present inventionas defined by the appended claims.

1. An apparatus for notifying a user of prior use of a medical itemcontaining a medical fluid, wherein said medical item includes a portwith a passage to enable insertion of a substance into said medical itemvia an instrument, said apparatus comprising: an indicator disposedwithin said passage to determine use of said medical item and alter anappearance of at least one of said indicator and said medical fluid inresponse to said insertion of said instrument within said passage. 2.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said indicator includes an inflatabledevice to transition between inflated and deflated states in response tosaid insertion of said instrument within said passage to indicate saidmedical item use.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said indicatorincludes an inflatable device that is filled with a colored fluid andenables said colored fluid to alter an appearance of said medical fluidto indicate said medical item use in response to said instrumentpiercing said inflatable device during said insertion within saidpassage.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said indicator includes achamber defined within said passage by a fluid barrier that isolatessaid chamber from said medical fluid.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4,wherein said chamber includes an object that alters an appearance of atleast one of said object and said medical fluid in response to saidinsertion of said instrument within said passage to indicate saidmedical item use.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said objectincludes a reactive material to change a material characteristic inresponse to contact with said medical fluid, and said fluid barrierenables said medical fluid to contact said reactive material to altersaid material characteristic and indicate said medical item use inresponse to said instrument piercing said fluid barrier during saidinsertion within said passage.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein saidreactive material changes color in response to contact with said medicalfluid to indicate said medical item use.
 8. The apparatus of claim 5,wherein said object includes a colored fluid and said fluid barrierenables said colored fluid to alter said appearance of said medicalfluid to indicate said medical item use in response to said instrumentpiercing said fluid barrier during said insertion within said passage.9. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said fluid barrier enables saidmedical fluid to flow within said chamber to indicate said medical itemuse in response to said instrument piercing said fluid barrier duringsaid insertion within said passage.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said medical item includes a medical solution container.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said medical item includes an intravenoussolution bag, said port includes an injection port and said instrumentincludes a needle.
 12. A medical item notifying a user of prior usecomprising: a receptacle including a medical fluid; a port with apassage to enable insertion of a substance into said receptacle via aninstrument; and an indicator disposed within said passage to determineuse of said medical item and alter an appearance of at least one of saidindicator and said medical fluid in response to said insertion of saidinstrument within said passage.
 13. The medical item of claim 12,wherein said indicator includes an inflatable device to transitionbetween inflated and deflated states in response to said insertion ofsaid instrument within said passage to indicate said medical item use.14. The medical item of claim 12, wherein said indicator includes aninflatable device that is filled with a colored fluid and enables saidcolored fluid to alter an appearance of said medical fluid to indicatesaid medical item use in response to said instrument piercing saidinflatable device during said insertion within said passage.
 15. Themedical item of claim 12, wherein said indicator includes a chamberdefined within said passage by a fluid barrier that isolates saidchamber from said medical fluid.
 16. The medical item of claim 15,wherein said chamber includes an object that alters an appearance of atleast one of said object and said medical fluid in response to saidinsertion of said instrument within said passage to indicate saidmedical item use.
 17. The medical item of claim 16, wherein said objectincludes a reactive material to change a material characteristic inresponse to contact with said medical fluid, and said fluid barrierenables said medical fluid to contact said reactive material to altersaid material characteristic and indicate said medical item use inresponse to said instrument piercing said fluid barrier during saidinsertion within said passage.
 18. The medical item of claim 17, whereinsaid reactive material changes color in response to contact with saidmedical fluid to indicate said medical item use.
 19. The medical item ofclaim 16, wherein said object includes a colored fluid and said fluidbarrier enables said colored fluid to alter said appearance of saidmedical fluid to indicate said medical item use in response to saidinstrument piercing said fluid barrier during said insertion within saidpassage.
 20. The medical item of claim 15, wherein said fluid barrierenables said medical fluid to flow within said chamber to indicate saidmedical item use in response to said instrument piercing said fluidbarrier during said insertion within said passage.
 21. The medical itemof claim 12, wherein said medical item includes an intravenous solutionbag, said port includes an injection port and said instrument includes aneedle.
 22. A method of notifying a user of prior use of a medical itemcontaining a medical fluid, wherein said medical item includes a portwith a passage to enable insertion of a substance into said medical itemvia an instrument, said method comprising: (a) determining use of saidmedical item and altering an appearance of at least one of an indicatordisposed within said passage and said medical fluid in response to saidinsertion of said instrument within said passage.
 23. The method ofclaim 22, wherein said indicator includes an inflatable device, and step(a) further includes: (a.1) transitioning said inflatable device betweeninflated and deflated states in response to said insertion of saidinstrument within said passage to indicate said medical item use. 24.The method of claim 22, wherein said indicator includes an inflatabledevice that is filled with a colored fluid, and step (a) furtherincludes: (a.1) altering an appearance of said medical fluid via saidcolored fluid to indicate said medical item use in response to saidinstrument piercing said inflatable device during said insertion withinsaid passage.
 25. The method of claim 22, wherein said indicatorincludes a chamber defined within said passage by a fluid barrier thatisolates said chamber from said medical fluid, and wherein said chamberincludes an object and step (a) further includes: (a.1) altering anappearance of at least one of said object and said medical fluid inresponse to said insertion of said instrument within said passage toindicate said medical item use.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein saidobject includes a reactive material that changes a materialcharacteristic in response to contact with said medical fluid, and step(a.1) further includes: (a.1.1) altering said material characteristic toindicate said medical item use by enabling said medical fluid to contactsaid reactive material in response to said instrument piercing saidfluid barrier during said insertion within said passage.
 27. The methodof claim 26, wherein said reactive material changes color in response tocontact with said medical fluid, and step (a.1.1) further includes:(a.1.1.1) changing said reactive material color to indicate said medicalitem use by enabling said medical fluid to contact said reactivematerial.
 28. The method of claim 25, wherein said object includes acolored fluid, and step (a.1) includes: (a.1.1) altering said appearanceof said medical fluid by said colored fluid to indicate said medicalitem use in response to said instrument piercing said fluid barrierduring said insertion within said passage.
 29. The method of claim 22,wherein said indicator includes a chamber defined within said passage bya fluid barrier that isolates said chamber from said medical fluid, andstep (a) further includes: (a.1) enabling said medical fluid to flowwithin said chamber to indicate said medical item use in response tosaid instrument piercing said fluid barrier during said insertion withinsaid passage.
 30. The method of claim 22, wherein said medical itemincludes a medical solution container.
 31. The method of claim 22,wherein said medical item includes an intravenous solution bag, saidport includes an injection port and said instrument includes a needle.